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Restoration of a Regal 1930s Domino guitar. with video

Hi, this guitar was also left with me as it was too expensive for the customer to have the considerable amount of work done that was needed to make the guitar stable and playable. My aim was not to fully restore, but just do what was needed while still keeping the war wounds of age visible. Keeping its character.

1 – This is how I received the guitar. Many open splits in the top and a neck that needed resetting.

2 - Unglued braces on the back and top, split braces, and bad past repairs all had to be put right. I did this working through the soundhole as I did not want to remove the back on this job.

3 – The bridge was in a sad state as was the bridge plate inside. The bridge plate was replaced, and the original bridge was saved by restoration.

4 – Frets were good so just polished, the fingerboard was left original but cleaned up, and new plastic binding was fitted. As mentioned the neck was removed and reset.

5 – Here the bracing and the cleats reinforcing the splits and cracks are glued and clamped.

6 – The old screws holding the bridge were replaced with more suitable bolts and nuts but still look like the original repair…

7 – The bridge is cleaned up and the worn-out pin holes are redrilled and plugged ready for resizing for new bridge pins.

8 – Fingerboard cleaned up, new neck binding fitted, frets polished, and all cracks in the top repaired. I also reused the original tuning machines.

9 – All done, now it’s a daily player. I did not intend to hide the signs of wear and tear, just make this old guitar stable and playable.

It’s a very loud guitar with a great old-timey tone, I play it as a slide guitar style. It's all original: the nut, machines, frets, and the bridge. Oops! Bridge pins are not original.

Here's a video of the guitar being played. Again a first take, just give ya'll a listen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI-4Q38p0Rg

Quiz… Who was the performer who used a Regal domino-like this one that sold for $30,000?

Sorry, no prizes.
Cheers Taff

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Keith Rearick on December 5, 2022 at 8:12am

Fats Domino?

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on December 5, 2022 at 11:29am

ha-ha, it actually says Le Domino on the peghead. If you are referring to the owner of the $30,000 version, sorry no cigar.
Taff

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Permalink Reply by Jerry Jordan on December 6, 2022 at 10:37am

Beautiful, great job Taffy!

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Permalink Reply by T-Gripped on December 10, 2022 at 11:23am

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on December 23, 2022 at 2:25pm

Amazingly thorough work (as always). I love the respect you show for these "hard case" guitars. You are able to bring them back to their prime without "over-restoring". Knowing when to stop is an art form you have mastered.

Always love seeing your repair/restoration work.

Thanks for sharing.

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on December 24, 2022 at 12:28pm

Hi Tom, thanks for your kind comments and interest. I have a few more I can show in the new year.
Merry Christmas Taff.

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on December 25, 2022 at 2:20am

I love good restoration work. Post more if you have them.

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on December 24, 2022 at 9:04pm

Hi again, The player who’s Le Domino Regal sold for a reported $35,000 was a guy called Elliot Smith. In case y’all die wondering.
Taff

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